# Accident 20210305003149A: Air Tractor Inc AT-402B, Moorhead, MS, March 5, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 5, 2021, 10:30 local time
- Place: Moorhead, MS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 33.4517° N, 90.4930° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4517&lon=-90.4930&mi=10
- Aircraft: N41068, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41068) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402B (registry code 0390208, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG (registry code 52246, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-15ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402B
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-15AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 14,639 total, 4,260 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA148) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210305003149A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATIONS NEAR MOORHEAD MS, THE PILOT FAILED TO SEE POWER LINES AND STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WITH THE LEFT WING BREAKING OFF THE TOP FOUR FEET OF THE POLE. A CROSSMEMBER OF THE UTILITY POLE IMPALED THE LEFT WING DAMAGING THE FRONT SPAR, FUEL TANK AND REAR SPAR. THE CROSSMEMBER REMAINED LODGED IN THE WING JAMMING THE AILERON AND FLAP CONTROLS FOR DURATION OF THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO DIRECT THE AIRCRAFT USING RUDDER AND ELEVATOR CONTROLS TO A NEARBY GRASS AIRSTRIP AND LAND SAFELY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN21LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA148), Mar 5, 2021: Air Tractor AT-402B (N41068), Moorhead, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain clearance from a powerline during an aerial application flight.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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